Washington, D.C. – A year ago, in November 2020, hurricanes Eta and Iota devastated Central America, leaving hundreds of thousands of people and families displaced from their homes and millions more struggling with water insecurity and economic collapse.
Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Senior Policy Manager of United We Dream, said:
“A year after Hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, millions of families and communities continue to live in increasingly unstable and unsafe conditions. With many losing their homes, lacking access to clean water, and facing food insecurity, it is clear that people across Central America must have relief now. No one is immune to the threatening impact of climate change, but what remains true is that Black, brown, immigrant, and indigenous communities often bear the brunt of the fallout from these natural disasters and the inaction from politicians to combat them.
Just last month, the White House released a report acknowledging the critical role of the U.S. in assisting refugees facing climate displacement. Now it’s time they act on their findings. It’s imperative that the Biden administration understands that climate justice is immigrant justice. They can and must deliver policies that tackle climate change head on and ensure millions of climate refugees across Central America and elsewhere have every opportunity to seek life-saving support here in the U.S. While immigrant communities and our allies continue to push the administration to deliver citizenship through the Build Back Better package, President Biden must designate TPS to the people of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras whose lives continue to be upended by climate change.”